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A decent modern fairly central hotel in Glasgow

Last September we spent a few days In Glasgow exploring the city and particularly the designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and we stayed in this hotel which we booked prior to arriving in the city.

We particularly chose this hotel as it was pretty central to the places we wanted to visit and also said it had parking. Parking in a city centre hotel is pretty essential if you arrive by car as it can be very expensive to pay for car parking for a stay of a few days.

PARKING AND ARRIVINGWe eventually found the hotel but there was no obvious place to park and not even a drop off stopping area outside the front of the hotel. In fact we had to go around the block to chack and see if we could find somewhere to stop and ask where to park but no luck. We then drove back down and my husband parked in a pay and display car park near BHS and I ran up the road to find out where to park the car. The girl at the desk explained where we could park and gave me one of their special discounted parking tickets to put on the car windowsill. I then had to run back and try and guide my husband using her directions to this other car park. It was just an ordinary ground level open air car park so we were a little concerned about leaving the car over night for a few days but it was okay. We checked on it daily to make sure.

The vouchers cost 8.95 GBPfor 24hours so we bought a couple and then an extra overnight one I think which goes from 5pm till 10 am .

RECEPTION

We then had to walk back from the car park with all our stuff and there was quite a lot because we had been self catering the week before. Usually we would have left it in the car but in a public car park we didn't feel it was wise. We had a good block to walk which was a real pain and in my feedback to the hotel I did d say that they should have had a couple of drop of places as it was a lot to expect people to walk all that way with luggage. Friends of mine from Australia did a road trip around the UK and they would have been mighty fed up to cart all their stuff that distance.

The girls at Reception were very friendly and helpful when I checked in before running back with our stuff and when we struggled in with everything they smiled and waved .We made our way through the locked door to the lift using our room key card and then into the lift.

Our room was not that high up but we did have an excellent view of a car park behind which would have been a lot more convenient for us to park in but it was half empty most of the time so salt in the wound for us!!

Check in is at 3pm but we arrived a bit after that and check out was quite late at 12 noon but we left long before midday on the day we left.

THE ROOM

The room was a typical holiday Inn Express room with modern furnishing and neatly made double bed with fresh white cotton sheets and a runner across the bottom. It was all very clean and functional but with not a lot of character but all we wanted was a room with a comfortable bed and a decent clean bathroom.

We not only had a good sized comfortable bed but also a sofa bed, desk and neat flatscreen TV . We also had a kettle with tea and coffee making stuff which we did use for a cuppa from time to time. I was happy that we had free wifi and was able to keep up with reading , rating and writing reviews when we got back after a day's sightseeing.

We found we had plenty of storage and not only drawers but hanging space too. The windows were secure and double glazed so the room was pretty quite at all times despite being in a city. Our room was at the back of the hotel so not on the roadside but even so it might have been noisy if we had not had double glazed windows.

The bathroom was all white and sparkling clean with free toiletries of shampoo, soap and body lotion but no conditioner I think. I was cheeky and went into Lush and got samples of their shampoo and conditioner to use while I was away anyway so I was not that bothered. I also bought a bath bomb to use in the bath while we were there as a treat.

BREAKFASTThis was included which is always a bonus. My husband gets really fed up when breakfast in NOT included. There was a buffet with a pretty good selection of fruit juices, fresh and dried and some cut up as well as whole fruit too. I enjoy my yoghurts and pastries while my husband goes for the full English cooked stuff and we were both happy with what we had to choose from.

We never had problems finding a clean table in the morning and the staff were helpful and constantly clearing dirty plates and bits away.

THE BAROn our first evening we bought sandwiches and crisps and ate them in our room because we had had a really nice lunch out. We did however pop down and enjoy a drink or two in the bar next to the Reception area. We didn't feel like walking any further that evening and it was quite comfortable down there. The drinks prices though, were a bit more expensive than they were in the pub down the road which we went to the next evening.

CHECKING OUTWe are priority members and so we were welcomed as such on our arrival but you don't really get much of a bonus when checking out. They did have my credit card from when I checked in and as I checked out they just asked if I wanted to use that card. Printed off the receipt one I had keyed in my pin number and that was it.

They thanked me for staying and off I went to join my husband who had taken the stuff to the car in two journeys.

Happily the car was still there and the voucher had worked as we had no parking ticket but it did add a bit to our stay having to pay for parking but it is something you have to accept in city hotels I suspose but annoying never the less.

Thanks for reading.

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very good value hotel right in the city centre of Glasgow

I stayed in this hotel for one night with a friend at the end of november 2011. We booked the room around 3 weeks in advance and it cost £65 including breakfast. The hotel is very central (just behind the st enoch centre) and cost us under a fiver to get a taxi from queen street station.

The hotel itself is very clean and tidy, check in was quick and easy and the receptionist was very pleasant. The room was quite small and basic but it is what we expected. The room had a television, hair-drier, wardrobe, telephone and tea/coffee making facilities. The bathroom was small but clean and had a toilet, sink and a very good shower in it. The beds were comfy and we had a good night sleep, we were on the main road so there was the potential for noise but we never noticed any.

We were told breakfast was served 8.30-10.30, most other hotels were charging about £10 extra for breakfast but it was included in the price for the holiday inn. We went down for breakfast at just after 10 the next morning to find a huge que and no free tables. We went back to the room and returned at 10.30 to find no ques, but not much breakfast left either. We did manage to get something though, there was plenty of bread (that could be toasted), croisants, cereal, fruit, yoghurts ect but all that was left of the hot breakfast was some scrambled eggs and there were no glasses or cups left for tea or juice. I suppose we could have gone down earlier, but it was a Saturday, we wanted a long lie ;)

Overall if you are looking for a cheap, no frills, central Glasgow hotel then I would recommend this place. I would definitely go back there for another night.

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A decent hotel for a good night's rest.

I was visiting Glasgow for a music event at Bellahouston Park and due to it finishing late I wanted a hotel to spend the night in. I didn't spend a great deal of time looking as it would only be for the one night, and after comparing Travelodge, Premier Inn and Holiday Inn Express I decided the latter would be my best option as it includes a free breakfast. I pre-booked the room on the Holiday Inn Express website, the room rate was £99 which is expensive; however it has a central location not too far away from the train station and of course included that breakfast.

We walked to the hotel from Glasgow central train station and only took us about 10-15 minutes. There were lots of shops nearby and the hotel itself is situated on the banks of the river. On entering reception I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and modern it was, a few weeks previous I had stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in York which was a bit old. Check in is a super fast affair, greeted with a smile from the receptionist who handed over the key card in a matter of seconds, along with directions to our room and what times breakfast is served.

We were on the fourth floor of the hotel and our room overlooked the main street. It was quite noisy during the day with traffic however on an evening it was quiet which allowed for a peaceful night's sleep. The room was big enough for our needs, with a standard decor that seems to match all their hotels, a blue, red and white theme. The bed had pillows with tags on them stating 'hard' or 'soft' and it was a nice touch that they included both types. There was a sofa in the corner, the standard small old fashioned CRT TV, and a small kettle with a couple of tea bags, coffee and UHT milk. Towels were provided in the bathroom and on a shelf in the main room, and a hairdryer was attached to the wall next to a long length mirror. The bathroom again was pretty standard, with a good sized shower, a well lit sink and a toilet. There are dispensers on the wall, one in the shower providing hair and body shampoo, and one next to the sink with hand wash. You can tell the bathroom is always kept nice and clean as it had no mould or horrible stains.

Being a city centre hotel I was dreading some noise from guests coming back late but this wasn't the case. Entry into the hotel after a certain time is gained by using your key card, however there is a separate door to get to the rooms which allows requires a key card to gain access to, so it did feel very secure.

Breakfast was very busy, however compared to the Holiday Inn Express I had stayed at a couple of weeks previous, it was laid out much better. There was also a nicer selection of food with everything from the usual cereals and toast, to mini blueberry muffins, croissants, scrambled egg and sausages. There was one big industrial toaster however you can to put your toast through twice for it to cook, otherwise you were left with warm bread. Someone turned the heat setting up so it cooked on your first go, but a member of staff came over and announced it was turned up too high and turned it back down. I didn't see the logic in that, and guests kept turning it back up so they could have toast rather than warm bread! There were plenty of seats with large flat screen TV's, and lots of free copies of The Independent to read. You can take breakfast up to your room but as we found a seat easily we opted to stay there.

Check out time is 12pm, which is a really good time considering most hotels are usually around the 10am mark. Overall this is a decent central hotel if you are in Glasgow for a night or two, I don't think I could stay longer than that (and not just because I didn't like Glasgow itself!) but because I think it's the type of hotel you are there to simply sleep in. You can book a room here through the official holiday inn website, or through sites such as expedia or laterooms.

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A functional hotel which looks tired.

This Glasgow hotel is situated about 5 minutes walk from Central Station in Stockwell Street, near to the River Clyde, but tucked away in a fairly quiet side street. This makes it an ideal location for a trip to the city. This was the purpose of my visit a few weeks ago when I went to visit my daughters. One of them stayed with me in this hotel as she is based in St Andrews and had travelled here to spend time with myself and my other daughter who is Glasgow based.

You can book through many agents but the best way is to go to www.hiexpress.co.uk and to join their priority scheme, which will allow you to collect points towards future stays and to have priority check in.

First Impressions

These were not as good as I had hoped; the entrance lobby was fitted with small tiles, which really could only be described as a bathroom range. These looked rather strange as they were in large blocks of different designs. It really looked like they had purchased remnants-not a good start.

Reception staff were swift and efficient as we had prepaid for our room with Octopus Travel, so we were simply handed our room card for a spot on the first floor.

A further glance around reception, bar and dining area left me feeling like I was standing on a Western Isles ferry, more about that later on.

The hotel charges £8 per day for parking, you can take a dog, and also you can enjoy air conditioning, satellite TV, and high-speed Wireless Internet access.

The Bedroom

We walked into our room and the first thought was that it looked sufficient for our needs. As I was here with my daughter we had twin beds and these were made up with white bed linen which was faintly striped. The beds were also made up with duvets which were extremely thin, in fact for the middle of winter these were ridiculously thin, and I could imagine rather difficult to sleep in, if like me you enjoy some weight of linen over you to be cosy. There was a small decorative rug coloured red on the end of the beds, which was sadly no more than 2 foot long so as much use as a chocolate teapot! I always look at the pillows in hotels as this usually affords some insight into the attitude, as I am a little fussy where old ones are concerned. I don't complain, just mentally note not to go to a hotel again if they are old and dirty. I also smell them as this gives the best clues as to their age and usage. These did not pass my test as they were hinting sweat. The mattresses were reasonable.

The Bathroom.

This had a walk in shower, separate toilet and was nicely tiled. There was no damage to the grouting or any visible mould indicating an excellent level of cleanliness and maintenance here.

Other Room Comments.

The room was decorated in buttermilk and white with accessories in colours of red, blue, and white, and over the beds hung a relaxing vermillion and crimson sunset which was a lovely touch.

A hairdryer was fixed conveniently by the mirror and there was a small TV, desk, lamp, kettle and tea and coffee making facilities which provided skimpy supplies of tea and coffee and milk but no biscuits.

There was an Olympic torch style lamp which looked modern and functional by the mirror, and the room was certainly adequate and of an acceptable standard though the pillows were not.

We had a reasonable sleep, bordering on chilly as the duvets were so flimsy, and the morning afforded a welcome opportunity to test the bathroom which scored well in all aspects. Plenty of hot water and adequate towels.

Breakfast

The breakfast experience was likened to dining on a Cal-Mac ferry somewhere off the west coast. Both my daughter and I agreed the restaurant felt like a ferry. Low ceilings and teak chairs, very nautical and basic, I almost felt I needed quells!

Breakfast is a serve yourself job- on a tray and then replace tray in the racks provided. Coffee is machine as are juices and milks, so no fancy things here. There are croissants of sorts and pastries, but the juice is- shall we say cordial - a juice imposter! Two giant TVs blare at each other from opposite ends of the room completing the rather oppressive ambiance. It filled our tummies, nothing else, and certainly no luxuries here. Every item of breakfast really said to me it had been acquired on "The Martin Lewis downshift challenge!"

I had actually been booked into this hotel by Octopus Travel as an alternative to the one I had booked at The Central, which sadly went bankrupt just prior to my trip, so I had been offered this alternative for the bargain bucket price of £44 for two. Therefore I really couldn't grumble, however the actual nightly walk up rate is £99, and if I had paid this I would have been very disappointed indeed.

To me the mark of a good hotel is in the attention to detail-the pillows must smell fresh, the juice must be juice, and the décor must be enticing and airy. Fresh coffee would help. This hotel fails to deliver the ambience a weary city traveller is yearning for, it is doing quite well in the bedrooms in some respects, but unless these improvements are mirrored in the dining and public areas it will sadly not see my repeat business.Strange really because the hotel is part of a chain and many of the others have been upgraded, such as the one at Glasgow airport ,which is now a much more inviting hotel.

I read recently that this chain is struggling as bookings are taking a nose dive. This is sad because without revenue from repeat bookings there is no money to plough into improvements, without these no one books and the vicious cycle continues.

It is in danger of going the same way as the Central Hotel I was originally booked into. Unless it can climb up competition is in danger of squeezing out hotels which only provide a base and are functional. Discerning travellers are seeking more than this hotel can currently offer in these competitive times.